Inflatable aquatic rescue board and method of rescue

ABSTRACT

An inflatable aquatic rescue board is provided having particular advantage in rescuing persons who have sustained injuries while swimming or diving, and who frequently must be held rigid to prevent further injuries while being removed from the water. Prior to inflation, the rescue board is quite flexible, permitting it to be rolled into a compact bundle for storage. Then, upon activation of a self-contained compressed gas supply, the rescue board quickly becomes stiff and bouyant to form an ideal aquatic stretcher. The board comprises a planar structure having two impervious parallel broad faces constrained to a maximum separation by internal members extending therebetween. Transverse reinforcements provide additional rigidity and two longitudinally extending flat springs facilitate unrolling of the rescue board under water during rescue. Strategically placed straps are provided for securing an injured person to the board and handles are placed for maximum ease of removal from water and transportation to competent medical treatment.

United States Patent 1 Rice et al.

[451 Dec.4,1973

[ INFLATABLE AQUATIC RESCUE BOARD AND METHOD OF RESCUE [73] Assignee: R.F. lnc., Grantsville, W. Va.

[22] Filed: Mar. 30, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 239,732

Q [52] US. Cl 5/82, 5/349, 9/11 A [51] Int. Cl A47b 83/04 [58] Field ofSearch 5/81, 82, 348, 349;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 879,335 2/ 1908 Southmayd5/82 3,155,992 11/1964 Shewmake et al.. 9/11 A 722,456 31/1903 Reeves5/82 2,410,181 10/1946 Peters 5/82 3,133,295 5/1964 Klingensmith 9/11 R2,273,672 2/1942 Van Gasselt.... 5/82 2,753,573 7/1956 Barker 5/350Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Robert H. Fraser et al.

[5 7 ABSTRACT An inflatable aquatic rescue board is provided havingparticular advantage in rescuing persons who have sustained injurieswhile swimming or diving, and who frequently must be held rigid toprevent further injuries while being removed from the water. Prior-toinflation, the rescue board is quite flexible, permitting it to berolled into a compact bundle for storage. Then, upon activation of aself-contained compressed gas supply, the rescue board quickly becomesstiff and bouyant to form an ideal aquatic stretcher. The boardcomprises a planar structure having two impervious parallel broad facesconstrained to a maximum separation by internal members extendingtherebetween. Transverse reinforcements provide additional rigidity andtwo longitudinally extending flat springs facilitate unrolling of therescue board under water during rescue. Strategically placed straps areprovided for securing an injured person to the board and handles areplaced for maximum ease of removal from water and transportation tocompetent medical treatment.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Aluminum. 4 um I SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to water rescue apparatus and more particularly to aninflatableaquatic rescue board and methods of rescue.

2. History of the Prior Art Many of the water connected injuriesoccurring each year involve damage to the neck or spine; whereby theinjured person should if at all possible be immediately immobilized topreclude aggravation of the injuries during transportation to a hospitalor other treatment facility. Sports activities such as diving and waterskiing are particularly likely to result in cervical or spinal injuriesin which further bending or twisting of the spine can cause permanentdamage. Under typical present procedures the person sustaining suchinjuries is removed from the water under manual restraint and thenplaced on a stretcher for transportation to a treatment facility.-Thisremoval procedure is very dangerous for a person who needs to beimmobilized, because positive restraint from relative movement of theinjured persons body is very difficult even for a skilled rescuer.

There is in addition the basic problem of rescueof an injured person inthe water. In deep water, a rescuing swimmer has insufficient mobilityto do little. more than tow an injured person to help; and in a pool itis'difficult to get an injured person over the side to the pool A needexists for an easily manipulatable rescueboard that can facilitate waterrescues SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An-inflatable aquatic rescue board isprovided for rescuing injured persons from water. When uninflated, theboard is compactand flexible for convenient storage and easytransportation to an injured person. After placement beneath an injuredperson, the board can be inflated from a self-contained supply ofpressurized gas, transforming it into a rigid, floating stretcher.

Methods of rescue in accordance with the invention utilize the steps ofpartially extending an uninflated rescue board along the upper spine ofan injured person, manipulating the person into a desired position whilesupporting the spine, and then inflating the board and securing theperson to it.

In a specific example of a rescue board in accordance with theinvention, a gas impervious bag having two substantially parallel broadsurfaces forms the rescue board. The two broad surfaces are connected byinternal members such as nylon threads which maintain a fixed separationbetween the broad surfaces when inflated, without impeding gas flow.When inflated, the broad surfaces are quite rigid, but the rigidity issuitably increased by spaced transverse bars-and longitudinallyextending flat springs affixed or joined to the broad surfaces asreinforcing members. When uninflated, the broad surfaces collapsetogether and the rescue board becomes quite flexible, permitting it tobe rolled into a lightweight, compact package. The two longitudinal flatsprings aid further in unrolling the rescue board during inflation afterit is partially unrolled by hand and placed beneath an injured person.This is done without removing the injured person from the water. Afterinflation, the injured person is rapidly and conveniently immobilized byself-contained straps having easily secured fasteners. Handles areconveniently attached to the head end as well as the sides of the rescueboard facilitating removal from the water and transportation to medicaltreatment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of theinvention can be had from the following detailed description andaccompanying drawings, of .which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inflatable aquatic rescue board inaccordance with the invention shown in an inflated condition with aperson strapped thereto;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the inflatable aquatic rescue board shown inFIG. 1; 7

FIG. 3 is a side sectonal view of the inflatable aquatic rescue boardtaken along line 33 in the direction of DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown inFIG. 1, an inflatable aquatic rescue board 10 in accordance with theinvention has a rectangular top broad surface 12 for receiving a humanform. Referring also to FIGS. 2-4, a rectangular bottom broad surface 14is aligned immediately below the top broad surface 12 parallel thereto.The two broad surfaces 12, 14 are connected together by flexibleinternal members such as threads and preferably comprise'fabric coatedwith impervious material such as neoprene rubber. Thus, with the broadsurfaces 12, 14 sealed together along their peripheries they form aflat, air-tight bag with the two broad surfaces l2, l4 collapsingtogether when the bag is in a deflated condition, but upon inflationseparating to a uniform distance determinedv yond the board 10 whilemaintaining a reasonable size and weight. Similarly, the 24-inch widthis sufficient to make capsizing difficult but does not prevent a singlerescuer from reaching across the board 10 to strap down an injuredperson.

An inflation device 16 such as a standard S /z ounce CO bottle used forfire extinguishers is fastened by straps 18 to the top broad surface 12near the head end at one side thereof and is connected to inflate theboard 10, when activated. The straps 18 re permanently fastened to thetop surface 12 at one end but removably fastened, as by Velcro fasteners20, at the other end to permit replacement of the inflation device 16.The chosen location of the inflation device 16 permits a rescuer to holdan injured person in placewith one hand while operating the inflationdevice 16 with the other. Manual operation of a lever 22 causes theinjection of gas into the interior of the board to quickly inflate it.

Also located on the top broad surface 12, but to one side of the footend is a gas release valve 24 that can be opened to deflate the rescueboard 10 after use. As shown in FIG. 5, the rescue board 10 loses itsrigidity when deflated and can be rolled into a compact bundle forstorage.

Although the rescue board 10 is inherently rigid when inflated, acertain amount of reinforcement is desirable. To provide additionalstrength in the chest area, a pair of transversely extending aluminumbars 26, 28 are positioned on center lines approximately 7-% inches and24 inches respectively from the head end of the rescue board 10. Thesebars 26, 28 are ap proximate three-sevenths inch wide, three-sixteenthsinch thick and extend across substantially the entire width of therescue board 10. They are permanently molded into the bottom broadsurface 14.

Additional support is provided by three one-half inch by 0.0020.003 inchthick flat steel spring wires molded into the bottom broadsurface 14.One spring 30 extends transversely across substantially the entire widthof the rescue board 10 on a center line 4-% inches from the foot end.Second and third springs 32, 34 respectively extend longitudinally alongopposite edges of the rescue board. One end of each of the springs 32,34 terminates opposite the bar 28 and the other end terminates at thespring 30. The springs 30, 32 and 34 normally maintain a flat position.This provides additional rigidity and enables the longitudinallyextending springs 32, 34 to aid in the .unrolling of the board 10 uponinflation in the water during a rescue.

Four straps are provided to secure a rescued person to the board 10 andprevent his movement thereon. A head strap 35 is positioned about 6-%inches from the head end of the rescue board 10 to pass across theforehead of a rescued person. The head strap 35 is l-3 l /32 inches wideand about 31 inches long. One end is permanently fastened at one side ofthe head positioned nearv the inflation device 16. The other end, whichpasses underneath a loop 36 is secured by a Velcro fastener comprised ofsections of hook 38 and plush40 at the opposite side of the headposition. The loop 36 is molded to the top broad surface 12 and insuresthat the direction of stress on the Velcro coupling is always parallelto the plane of the coupling, the direction of maximum strength, andalso prevents rotation of the head during transportation of the injuredperson. A plush pad 42 near the center of the strap 35 on the undersidethereof cushions against the head of an injured person during rescue andsecures the strap 35 to a pad of Velcro hooks 44, located in the centerof the top broad surface 12 at the head end, when the rescue board isnot in use.

A chest strap 46 is positioned on a center line 24 inches from the headend of the board 10 and is somewhat wider than the other straps toprevent its digging into the chest of a person being rescued. One end ofthe 6-inch wide chest strap 46 is permanently fastened to one edge ofthe bottom broad surface 14 while the other end of the 46-inch longstrap 46 fastens to the opposite edge of the bottom broad surface 14 byVelcro plush 48 and hooks 50 (best seen in FIG. 2). Similarly, a l-31/32inch by 42 inch hip strap 52 is positioned 39 inches from the head endwith a Velcro plush end 54 inch foot strap 58 is positioned 61 inchesfrom the head end with a Velcro plush, end 60 fastened to Velcro hooks61. I

A pair of tapering loops 62 are molded to the bottom broad surface 14 atthe foot end near opposite edges thereof. The loops 62 receiveindividual lightweight elements 63 such as styrofoam to add extrabuoyancy and support to the foot end of the rescue board 10 to insurethat the feet and legs of the injured person do not slide sideways offof the board during inflation and while the person is being securelystrapped to the board.

A set of handles is conveniently arranged to assist rescuers in removingthe rigid board, to which the injured person is securely strapped, fromthe water and carrying it in stretcher fashion. A 2 inch wide by 9inches long transversely extending wrist strap 64 has its ends moldedinto the bottom broad surface 14 about 14 inches from the head end. Thiswrist strap 64 is provided for use by rescuers as the deflated rescueboard 10 is partially unrolled and put into position on an injuredpersons back, the injured person then being turned over onto the board10 and the board inflated.

An end handle 66 extends from the head end of the rescue board 10 at thecenter thereof. It is constructed from a semi-circular length of rubbercovered rope having a radius of about 5 inches with a strap 68 extendinglongitudinally from either end of the handle. The two longitudinally.extending ends of the strap 68 are about 6-% inches long and are moldedto the bottom board surface 14. The handle 66 is used to advantage inpositioning the rescue board l0 prior to inflation, in towing theinflated board, in removing it from the water, and in subsequently.carrying it up steep embankments.

Four additional side handles 70, 72, 74 and 76 similar to the end handle66 are located in oppositely positioned pairs along the longitudinaledges of the rescue board 10 at center points 14-% inches and 39 inchesfrom the head end. Portions of the handles 70, 72, 74 and 76 whichextend across the bottom of the rescue board 10 are molded into thebottom broad surface 14. The four side handles 70, 72, 74 and 76 aremost advantageously used for removing the inflated rescue board from thewater and carrying it in a horizontal position.

The internal construction of the rescue board is best shown in FIG. 6where it can be seen that the top and bottom broad surfaces 12, 14 arelayers of fabric 82, 84 respectively constrained to be aligned in auniformly spaced apart relationship by internal members 86. The

fabric layers 82, 84 are made impervious to gases by fastening to Velcrohooks 56 and a l-3 l/32 inch by 42 coating them with an outside layer ofmaterial such as neoprene rubber. That is, a first neoprene layer 88 isbonded to the top side of the top fabric layer 82 and a second neoprenelayer 90 is bonded to the bottom side of the bottom fabric layer 84. Adrop stitch material conforming to Type 12 of Military SpecificationMIL- C-17415E Amendment 3 and sold under the trade name Infab ispreferred in this example for meeting the construction requirements ofthe aquatic rescue board As previously noted in conjunction with FIG. 6,the rescue board 10 is stored in a collapsed, rolled-up condition. As arescuer approaches an injured swimmer with the rescue board 10, hepartially unrolls the rescue board 10 and passes his left arm throughthe end handle 66 at the head end of the board in the direction of topto bottom and passes his wrist through the wrist loop 64 on the bottomof the rescue board 10, grasping the remaining rolled portion in hisleft hand. The injured party will most likely be floating face down inthe water and the rescuer places the rescue board on his back with therescuers left arm assuming the same line as the vertebrae column of theinjured swimmer. Still supporting the cervicalarea, the rescuer uses hisfree hand to grasp the upper arm of the injured swimmer and turn himover onto his back, exposing his face to air. While still supporting'thespinal column of the injured swimmer with his left arm, the rescuer thenactivates the inflation device 16 with his right hand. The force of theexpanding gases and the action of the longitudinal spring elementsautomatically complete the unrolling of the rescue board l0,'which'thenbouyantly supports the injured swimmerin an extended position. After thefour straps 35, 46, 52, 58 are secured by their Velcro fastenings, theinjured swimmer can be removed from the water and transported toavailable medical help.

Methods in accordance with the invention provide novel techniques forrescuing and removing injured persons from the water. The spine ofthe'injured person is first longitudinally supported along its'length bythe arm of the rescuer and the interposed, partially extended board. Inthis position,the injured party can readily be manipulated to theface-up floating position without bending or twisting of the spine. Whenthis position is achieved the aquatic rescue board is inflated, floatingthe injured person on his back, but again without shifting the body.When the injured person is then secured to the board, his body iseffectively rigiditied so that no spinal movement ensues despitelifting, tilting or turning of the board.

Boards in accordance with the invention provide advantageouscombinations of lightness in weight and initial compactness, togetherwith large inflated area and structural rigidity when inflated. Thus; arescuer can quickly reach an immobilized victim, but the victimthereafter canbe towed or pulled over the side of a swimming pool, andcarried as on a stretcher without further danger.

Although there has been described above a particular arrangement of aninflatable aquatic rescue board in accordance with the invention for thepurpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used toadvantage, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limitedthereto. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations andequivalent arrangements which I may occur to those skilled in the artshould be considered to be'within the scope of theinvention'.

What is claimed is: 1. An inflatable aquatic rescue board comprising: aninflatable bag of impervious material having two substantially parallelbroad faces in alignment with each other and constrained to be separatedby not more than a maximum distance by'intemal members, said bag beinggenerally rectangular and having two longitudinally extending sides andtransverse head and foot ends respectively; said bag being rolled upfrom the foot end to the head end in the deflated condition; manuallyactuable means disposed adjacent the head end and coupled to inflate thebag when activated;

and

arm receiving means disposed adjacent the head end for enabling arescuer, while the bag is uniflated and partially, rolled and whilepositioned at the unrolled end, to place the unrolled portion of saidbag adjacent the back of an injured person with the arm extending alongthe spine, the bag unrolling fully under the injured person duringinflation. 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 above, including inaddition longitudinal spring means disposed along at least one of thebroad faces thereof to provide a spring force tending to assistunrolling, and wherein the internal pressure of the inflated bag isapproximately 10 psi.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 above, further including handlemeans for carrying the bag in a hori-.

spaced apart longitudinal regions for rigidly securing an injured personto one of the broad faces; and means coupled to said manually actuablemeans for controlling the rate of inflation of said bag. v

4. An inflatable aquatic rescue board comprising: an impervious topbroad surface; an imperviousbottom broad surface having a shapesubstantially conforming to the top broad surface, said bottom broadsurface being disposed parallel to and in alignment with the topbroadsurface; internal means disposed between the top and bottom broadsurfaces constraining them to'a maximum separation while permitting theinterior flow of an inflating gas;

said top and bottom broad surfaces being composed of flexible materialpermitting rolling of said board into a compact package in the deflatedcondition;

said board having a head end and a foot end with said top and bottomsurfaces'extending longitudinally the length of said board from saidhead end to said foot end, the peripheral edges of the top and botvtombroad surfaces being joined together to form an inflatable bag; I

said board being rolled up from the foot end to the head endin thedeflated condition;

means for unrolling a portion of said board for placing the unrolledportion of said board adjacentthe back of an injured person; and

means for thereafter inflating the bag to extend and define the rescueboard 5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 above.

wherein said top and bottom broad surfaces and internal means comprise apair of woven panels and interconnecting, drop stitches said panelsbeing coated on the outside surfaces thereof with neoprene.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rescue board hasat least one tranversely oriented reinforcement bar secured to at leastone of the broad surfaces thereof providing increased rigidity of theboard in the transverse direction while at the same time permittingrolling of the deflated board into a compact package.

7. The invention as set forthin claim 4 wherein said to the bottom broadsurface in an area near the middle of said surface providing an openingthrough which the rescuer may insert his arm and partially unroll theboard and the wrist loop through which the rescuer can insert his handto grasp the remaining rolled portion of the board so that the rescuermay place the board on the back of the injured person prior to inflationof the inflatable bag.

1. An inflatable aquatic rescue board comprising: an inflatable bag ofimpervious material having two substantially parallel broad faces inalignment with each other and constrained to be separated by not morethan a maximum distance by internal members, said bag being generallyrectangular and having two longitudinally extending sides and transversehead and foot ends respectively; said bag being rolled up from the footend to the head end in the deflated condition; manually actuable meansdisposed adjacent the head end and coupled to inflate the bag whenactivated; and arm receiving means disposed adjacent the head end forenabling a rescuer, while the bag is uniflated and partially rolled andwhile positioned at the unrolled end, to place the unrolled portion ofsaid bag adjacent the back of an injured person with the arm extendingalong the spine, the bag unrolling fully under the injured person duringinflation.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 above, including inaddition longitudinal spring means disposed along at least one of thebroad faces thereof to provide a spring force tending to assistunrolling, and wherein the internal pressure of the inflated bag isapproximately 10 psi.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 above,further including handle means for carrying the bag in a horizontalposition; detachable strap means disposed at spaced apart longitudinalregions for rigidly securing an injured person to one of the broadfaces; and means coupled to said manually actuable means for controllingthe rate of inflation of said bag.
 4. An inflatable aquatic rescue boardcomprising: an impervious top broad surface; an impervious bOttom broadsurface having a shape substantially conforming to the top broadsurface, said bottom broad surface being disposed parallel to and inalignment with the top broad surface; internal means disposed betweenthe top and bottom broad surfaces constraining them to a maximumseparation while permitting the interior flow of an inflating gas; saidtop and bottom broad surfaces being composed of flexible materialpermitting rolling of said board into a compact package in the deflatedcondition; said board having a head end and a foot end with said top andbottom surfaces extending longitudinally the length of said board fromsaid head end to said foot end, the peripheral edges of the top andbottom broad surfaces being joined together to form an inflatable bag;said board being rolled up from the foot end to the head end in thedeflated condition; means for unrolling a portion of said board forplacing the unrolled portion of said board adjacent the back of aninjured person; and means for thereafter inflating the bag to extend anddefine the rescue board
 5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 above.wherein said top and bottom broad surfaces and internal means comprise apair of woven panels and interconnecting, drop stitches said panelsbeing coated on the outside surfaces thereof with neoprene.
 6. Theinvention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rescue board has at leastone tranversely oriented reinforcement bar secured to at least one ofthe broad surfaces thereof providing increased rigidity of the board inthe transverse direction while at the same time permitting rolling ofthe deflated board into a compact package.
 7. The invention as set forthin claim 4 wherein said board includes a transversely oriented flatspring member secured to at least one of the broad surfaces thereof inthe proximity of the foot end of said board and a pair of float memberssecured to the bottom broad surface with one of said float memberslocated at each end of said spring member whereby the legs and feet ofthe injured person will be retained on the board during inflation andextension of the board.
 8. The invention as set forth in claim 4 furtherincluding longitudinally oriented elongated flat spring members securedto the top broad surface whereby said flat spring members exert a forceto extend said bag in the deflated condition and thereby assist therescuer in unrolling the board.
 9. The invention as set forth in claim 4including handle means positioned at the transverse edge adjacent thehead end of said board and a loop member secured to the bottom broadsurface in an area near the middle of said surface providing an openingthrough which the rescuer may insert his arm and partially unroll theboard and the wrist loop through which the rescuer can insert his handto grasp the remaining rolled portion of the board so that the rescuermay place the board on the back of the injured person prior to inflationof the inflatable bag.